Will Water Avenue be ready?
Published 11:31 pm Friday, February 25, 2011
The street and sidewalk near the new Interpretive Center remains in disarray with less than one week before the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee. Water Avenue, pictured above, is normally the location of dozens of vendors and hundreds of guests during the final days of the annual event. Despite appearances, organizers have been told by city leaders the street will be ready. -- Rick Couch
According to information given to the organizers of the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, sidewalk work on Water Avenue near the Interpretive Center will not impact next weekend’s festival.
Event coordinator Sam Walker said he was informed the project should be complete by the time the event kicks off.
“We have been told that it will be completed and we will be able to use it,” he said. “In past years we have only used that area between Water Avenue and Washington Street. But we have been told it will be finished.”
The biggest concern Walker said, is rain. However, he said, there is a plan in place if precipitation becomes a factor.
“We will move the gospel stages into the Pickard Auditorium and just have everything in there,” he said. “The non-gospel music will be moved to the old National Guard Armory Dallas Avenue. Even if it rains we will have music, we’ll just move it indoors.”
An all day street festival with hip hop, R&B, blues and gospel stages is scheduled for Saturday.
Organizers will begin setting up stages next Friday, leaving one week for the cement to be poured and set.
Numerous messages left for Selma Planning and Development Director Charlotte Griffith seeking comment were unreturned.
